Vladimir Balabkin
Vladimir Balabkin, born 1952, Amur Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Vladimir Balabkin”. Sentence (December 19, 2023): 1 year of a "suspended sentence" — a form of parole. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, September 14, 2023.
In brief
Amur Oblast · Belogorsk · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
1 year
of a "suspended sentence" — a form of parole
First instance, September 13, 2023: 4 years
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he "organised meetings of followers of religious organisations."
Latest event
December 19, 2023 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 1 year.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, September 14, 2023
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 1 year
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Amur Oblast
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of Vladimir Balabkin
Criminal case
The case of Vladimir Balabkin
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of the Amur region, cancer patient. In March 2021, Balabkin's home was searched. Later, he was questioned in relation to a case of "organising activities of an extremist organisation" due to his involvement in the activities of the Jehovah's Witness community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities — holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters. On September 13, 2023, Balabkin was sentenced to 4 years in a "general regime colony." On December 19, the appeal court commuted the sentence to a year of probation.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.